Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Kano Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Kano

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,698 in Abuja versus $546 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,805 in Abuja versus $872 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,911 in Abuja versus $1,198 in Kano.

Living in Abuja is roughly 211% more expensive than Kano, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 26% above, Kano is 59% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 ₦2,792

$3.51 ₦4,772

-41.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 ₦60.3K

$10.25 ₦13.9K

332.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ₦7,458

$5.42 ₦7,373

1.11%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₦3,470

$4.77 ₦6,486

-46.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 ₦701

$0.40 ₦549

30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₦561

$0.35 ₦480

17.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,505

$0.85 ₦1,149

30.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₦1,563

$0.83 ₦1,124

38.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.14 ₦4,272

$3.55 ₦4,824

-11.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₦1,716

$1.85 ₦2,520

-31.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 ₦3,347

$2.29 ₦3,116

7.42%

Eggs

$1.54 ₦2,094

$2.12 ₦2,879

-27.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.17 ₦7,031

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 ₦6,270

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.83 ₦5,207

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 ₦4,152

$6.96 ₦9,466

-56.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₦2,388

$1.62 ₦2,208

8.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,945

$1.16 ₦1,572

87.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,402

$1.15 ₦1,559

53.91%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,802

$2.41 ₦3,283

-14.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₦3,433

$3.48 ₦4,732

-27.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

$0.34 ₦458

67.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦394

$0.50 ₦683

-42.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ₦3,337

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ₦7,720

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,909

$0.88 ₦1,203

59.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦868

$0.82 ₦1,115

-21.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.79 ₦48.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₦1,183

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,388

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 ₦5,747

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₦1,139

$0.42 ₦567

100.00%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$30.68 ₦41.7K

$12.08 ₦16.4K

153.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.95 ₦14.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.93 ₦55.6K

$19.66 ₦26.7K

108.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.64 ₦62.1K

$34.56 ₦47.0K

32.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.57 ₦14.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.46 ₦11.5K

$4.83 ₦6,567

75.16%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$133 ₦180.8K

$35.91 ₦48.8K

270.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,986 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.31 ₦41.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.98 ₦39.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦91.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₦117.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,414 ₦3.3M

$478 ₦649.7K

405.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₦1.6M

$175 ₦237.9K

571.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,508 ₦7.5M

$1,178 ₦1.6M

367.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 ₦3.6M

$347 ₦471.9K

670.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦497.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 ₦222.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abuja: June 6, 2026

Last update for Kano: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,414 in Abuja and $478 in Kano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Abuja vs $10.00 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $150 per month, with Kano cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Abuja vs Kano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Kano differ by about 211% in total monthly costs ($1,698 vs $546 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,547 in Abuja and $819 in Kano to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,414 in Abuja versus $478 in Kano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $133 in Abuja versus $35.91 in Kano. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Kano – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $44.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $546 in Kano versus $1,698 in Abuja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kano but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Kano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 211% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.